State Bumps Up Aid to Moorestown Schools

Moorestown will benefit—to the tune of $617,070—from a statewide plan to increase aid to school districts.

Moorestown had expected a $617,070 state aid increase from this year’s package. Now, it will receive double that, for a $1,234,140 overall increase. Moorestown public schools now will get $2,735,299 total in state aid for the upcoming year.

“We’re still waiting for further guidance from the state” on what school districts may use the money for, said Moorestown school district business administrator Lynn Shugars. “The Board of Education also hasn’t had the opportunity to meet to discuss it.”

The school board does not hold a July meeting. Its next meeting is Aug. 16.

Shugars said the state provided a “pretty vague” memo about the extra aid allotment. The New Jersey Association of School Business Officials advised its members to wait for parameters from the state, she added.

The memo sent to school officials statewide outlined the state’s preferred use for the aid, but stopped short of a mandate.

“The additional state aid included in this year’s budget provides your district with a unique opportunity to reduce property tax burdens by lowering your local property tax levies for this fiscal year or the next,” reads the memo sent by Christopher Cerf, acting state education commissioner.

“Using this aid to lower taxes is an important step towards new and effective management of our schools that focuses on improved student achievement, rather than increased spending. I urge you to join our reform initiative by applying these newly allocated funds to alleviate your district’s taxes this fiscal year.”

State Sen. Diane Allen (R) also called for school districts to use the funds for tax relief. She represents the 7th Legislative District, which Moorestown will join next year due to redistricting.

“Additional school aid means a better learning environment for our children and less pressure on local property taxes,” she said in a statement. “The additional aid was made possible by a commitment to fiscal discipline and a commitment to living within our means. By controlling runaway state spending, we were able to prioritize education aid for suburban districts like ours.”

Statewide, the extra aid allotment amounts to $850 million.